California Car Accident Reports

A female pedestrian was injured in an Orange County car accident the morning of August 21, 2009 after she was hit by a car while walking in a crosswalk in front of an elementary school in Anaheim, California. According a news report in The Orange County Register, a woman was driving a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser near the intersection of Palm Lane and Loara Street in front of Palm Lane School, when it struck a parked silver Toyota Tacoma before hitting the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The female pedestrian was taken to the hospital with injuries. Anaheim fire officials said it was fortunate that the car hit the parked truck first because it likely slowed down the vehicle.

My heart goes out to this pedestrian who apparently sustained injuries in this Anaheim car accident. I'm relieved that she did not suffer life-threatening injuries. As the fire official said, this accident could have been a lot worse if the motorist had hit the pedestrian directly instead of striking the parked car first. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Anaheim Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 63 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 fatalities and 726 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.

Based on this newspaper report, it seems clear that the motorist lost control of her Chrysler and struck the parked car and the pedestrian. But what is not clear is why she lost control. There are many questions here. Was the driver impaired or distracted? Was she speeding? Did she suffer a medical condition? Did she simply not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk and try to make a sudden stop? I trust the official investigation is looking into all these factors.

California Car Accident Laws

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

The injured victim in such cases would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will analyze all aspects of the accident and make sure the injured victims receive fair compensation for their injuries, damages and loss. A skilled car accident lawyer will also look into whether there was a dangerous condition on that roadway that caused or contributed to this collision. If that was the case, the city of Anaheim or the governmental entity responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. The best Orange County personal injury law firms will always offer free initial consultations to injured victims and their families.